A Union Man...

Let me tell you a little about my dad. He was not only a photographer, but a machinist at Fairbanks Morse. He worked the second shift, 3:00PM to 11:00PM. He also worked part time at Yagla’s Camera Store repairing cameras and projectors.

He was born on July 28, 1919 in Auburn, Nebraska. 

He graduated from the Crete, Nebraska high school in 1939.

After graduation from high school, he moved to Beloit and began an apprenticeship program at Fairbanks Morse which he completed in 1943.

My brother found all of his pay stubs stashed away in the attic. Here’s one from 1941.

And one from December of 1983. He retired in 1984 when he turned 65.

My dad was a proud member of the United Steel Workers of America.

My dad kept a book with the details of the various jobs he would run on his machine. Each job had a number. When he had to run the jobs again in the future, he had all the details on how to set it up.

My dad’s machine was a 3” Bar. A friend who worked at Fairbanks and knew my dad told me this story. A new supervisor was walking around the shop talking to people. He stopped at the machine next to my dad’s and asked the guy what it was. The guy told him it was a 5” Bar. He then asked my dad what his machine was. My dad responded with 3” Bar. The supervisor then asked my dad what the difference between the two machines was. My dad responded: 2”.

In 1972, when I was home for a visit from Rochester Institute of Technology, my dad got permission for me to go into the shop to photograph him at his machine. I think I used these photograph for a class project. It was my first and last time in the factory where he worked. My first thought was that I was so glad I was going to college. I don’t know how he worked there for 40 years.

So I treasure these photographs of him. I am glad I was able to see where he worked and what he did. He was very good at it. 

These were taken with a Leica M4, Tri-X pushed one stop. Lenses were 35mm, 50mm, and 90mm.

Tri-X, f/8, and be there.